Cristina Alexander

having Josie.

Um, and I think it's really just like showing her that whatever you choose to do in life, like you can still be a mom and have passions.

Um, if you just want to be a mom, you can just be a mom.

I hate that because it's like, it's not, it's a hard, hard job, the hardest job.

Um, but yeah, like just like never like losing what you love, um, to do.

And so

As you look ahead to 2026, what are some expectations that you have specifically for Chicago as a group, but then also expectations for yourself and looking ahead to really find success this year?

I think for myself, probably just getting back on the pitch and feeling what it feels like to

be a play like be a soccer player you know and um yeah just like getting back onto the pitch after having a baby I feel like is a very big accomplishment um and again like commend all the women that have done it before like it is like amazing and just being a mom and juggling all that is like amazing in itself um and then I think for the stars it's like obviously last year wasn't

It was a tough year just for the club.

So just kind of like building an identity that we want to hold and achieve.

And then I'm always going to say, like, make it to the playoffs and win.

You know, like, if that's not the goal, then, like, why are you doing it, you know?

So, yeah, I think that with the group that we have, it's definitely possible.

Here are her last two seasons in NWSL.

You can obviously see why Chicago really missed having Mallory Swanson on the field, just a leader through and through.

I mean, the winning records just dramatically different from that season that she missed, obviously, in 2025.

So she recognized that.

But I want to get into what it means to her now, making her way back.

Obviously,